Inkstand



(No Model.) 4

' C. H. SGHWIETE.

INKSTAND.

Patented June 2', .1896.

NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OARL II. SOHWIETE, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

INKSTAN D.-

SPEGIFICATIONforming part of Letters Patent No. 561,348, dated June 2, 1896I .@.ppiicaionna March 12, 188e. semina. 582,888. tnomodem To all whom it may con/cern;

Be it known that I, CARL I-I. SoHwIETE, a citizen of the United States of America, rcsiding at Denver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inkstands, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in inkstands, and more particularly to certain devices for preventing the great evaporation of ink contained therein, and at the same time allowing a pen to be dipped into the ink, thereby opening the cover by a slight pressure thereon.

To such end it consists in constructing an ink-well of nevel features, the nature of which will appear from the following specification and claims.

The drawings presented herewith show the invention in its simplest form, in which- Figure l is a perspective view of a complete inkstand. Fig. 2 is a `central vertical longitudinal section thereof. Fig. 3 is aplan lview of the inkstand with the cover removed and showing the automatic closing device applied thereto. Fig. 4 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but showing a pen dipped into the ink and the closing device in an open position.

In the views, A is the body of an inkstand of ordinary form, and B is the cover, adapted vto close up the top of the stand, and which can be removed when it is desired to fill the inkstand. In inkstands of the common form the ink contained therein evaporates very quickly when the inkstand is uncovered, and iny present invention is with a view to prevent this evaporation by supplying the stand with an automatic closing device which will yield easily to the slightest pressure of the pen and open sufficiently to allow the pen to be dipped into the ink. Immediately upon the withdrawal of the pen the closing device will cover up the opening, thus preventing' any waste of ink through evaporation.

I have shown the present device as secured to the cover of the inkstand; but it is obvious that it can be secured to the body of theA stand, if it is so desired. In securing it to the cover, however, it can easily be cleaned and kept in very good workin g order.

As shown in the drawings, the cover B is provided with an opening Z) for access to the ink. To the underside of thecover is secured a frame C, and this frame is preferably constructed of two side portions c c and V- shaped guiding portions c c2, parallel to each other and slightly spaced apart, with their apeXes at the lowest point. These V-shaped guiding-plates are provided with openings c3 c4, one above the other, of sufficient size to conveniently allow a pen to be thrust through the same, and between the V-shaped guiding portions c c2 are sliding plates D D, which form the cover. These sliding plates may be preferably given the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 4, being slightly bent, as seen at c5, to further assist in the perfect operation of the closing device. The bottom portion of the V-shaped plate c2 is preferably curved, as seen at of", and forms a stop, limiting the downward movement of the sliding plates D D,

which, from their gravity, normally assume` the position shown in Fig. Q-that is, the lowest point possible for them toattain.

Vhen a pen is thrust through the openings t es c4 in the cover and V-shaped plates, respectively, it crowds the lower portions of the plates D D away from it slightly and then forces them upward between the guiding portions c c2 until the pen passes between them. When the pen is withdrawn, the plates fall to their normal position, thus covering up the opening.

The device thus described is extremely simple and is a great convenience and saving of ink. The operating parts are constructed of some non-corrosive material, or may be formed in the glass of the stand itself.

The frame O can evidently be secured to the body of the inkstand as well as to the cover, and in this case the guiding-plates c/ c2 are left open at the top, so that the sliding plates D D may be removed for the purpose of cleaning them, or, when it is desired, to lill the inkstand. The open spaces at the top are preferably covered with a glass cover to prevent the evaporation.

Having now described and explained my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an automatic closing device for inkstands, the combination with the top B, hav- IOO ing a suitable opening, of the V-shaped guiding-frame, c', c2, having the openings, c3, c4, the sliding plates D, lying in said guidingframe, and normally adapted to Cover up the opening, but adapted when pressure is brought to bear upon their meeting edges to slide away from said opening and to return to their normal position when said pressure is removed; substantially as described.

2. The Combination with the top B, having the opening,b,of the V-shaped guiding-frame, c', c2, c, having the openings, c3, c4, the sliding plates D, D, lying within said guidingframe and normally resting upon the portion, c6, and adapted when pressure is brought to bear upon their meeting edges to slide away from said opening; substantially as described. 3. The combination in an inkstan d with the @over B, having the opening h, of the guidingframe c', c2, supported by said top, and having the openings c3, c4, the sliding plates, D, D, lying Within said frame, said frame being arranged upon the proper angle to allow the sliding plates to slide up in said guiding-frame when pressure is brought to bear upon their meeting edges; substantially as described. CARL Il. SCHWIETE. Witnesses:

HENRY MUHELSEN, JOSEPH C. HEiNZ. 

